Texas Nursing License Guide (2026)

Texas has one of the largest and fastest-growing nursing workforces in the nation, with over 350,000 licensed RNs and 100,000 LVNs. As an NLC compact state, Texas offers multistate licensing that allows practice across 40+ states. This guide covers everything you need to know about Texas nursing licensure.

Texas Board of Nursing (BON)

Detail	Information
Licenses	RN, LVN, APRN (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA)
Website	bon.texas.gov
Phone	(512) 305-7400
Address	333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460, Austin, TX 78701

The Texas BON is a single board overseeing all nursing licenses, including both RN and LVN (unlike California with separate boards).

Texas Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

Multistate License Benefits

Texas is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, meaning:

Benefit	Details
Practice in 40+ states	No additional licenses needed
Single license fee	One renewal covers multistate
Telehealth flexibility	Practice across state lines
Travel nursing ease	Work in compact states freely

Eligibility for Multistate License

To obtain a Texas multistate license, you must:

• Declare Texas as your primary state of residence
• Meet all Texas licensure requirements
• Pass a federal background check
• Have no encumbrances on any nursing license

Single-State License Option

You can request a single-state Texas license if:

• Your primary residence is in a non-compact state
• You don’t meet multistate license criteria
• You have license encumbrances

Texas RN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Eligibility requirements:

• Graduate from BON-approved nursing program
• Complete criminal background check
• Submit declaratory order if background issues exist

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Create Nursys account	Free
2	Submit online application	$186
3	Submit fingerprints (IdentoGO)	~$40
4	School submits eligibility verification	—
5	Receive ATT from BON	—
6	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
7	Pass NCLEX-RN	—
8	License issued	—

Timeline:

• Application approval: 2-4 weeks
• ATT issuance: Within days of approval
• Total time to license: 4-8 weeks

RN Endorsement

Eligibility for endorsement:

• Active RN license in another state
• No pending disciplinary actions
• Background check clearance
• Meet Texas education requirements

Endorsement process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online endorsement application	$186
2	Submit fingerprints (IdentoGO)	~$40
3	Verify license through Nursys	$30
4	Await BON review	—
5	Receive Texas license	—

Timeline: 3-6 weeks (faster than many states)

RN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$186
Endorsement application	$186
Biennial renewal	$67
Late renewal (up to 4 years)	$67 + $50
Inactive to active	$67
Duplicate license	$25
License verification (Nursys)	$30

RN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial (every 2 years)
CE hours	20 contact hours
Mandatory topics	Human trafficking (one-time, 2 hours at initial renewal)
Fee	$67
Renewal window	Up to 60 days before expiration

Texas LVN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Requirements:

• Graduate from BON-approved vocational nursing program
• Criminal background check clearance
• Complete application with required documentation

Application process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online application	$140
2	Submit fingerprints (IdentoGO)	~$40
3	School submits eligibility	—
4	Receive ATT from BON	—
5	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
6	Pass NCLEX-PN	—
7	License issued	—

Timeline: 3-6 weeks to ATT

LVN Endorsement

Same process as RN endorsement with appropriate application.

Timeline: 3-6 weeks

LVN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$140
Endorsement application	$140
Biennial renewal	$67
Late renewal	$67 + $50

LVN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial
CE hours	20 contact hours
Fee	$67

Texas APRN Licenses

Overview

Texas recognizes four APRN roles:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

APRN Requirements

Common requirements for all APRNs:

• Active Texas RN license
• Graduate from accredited APRN program
• National certification in role and population
• Collaborative practice agreement (for NPs prescribing)

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Practice authority: Texas has restricted practice for NPs:

• Collaborative practice agreement required for prescribing
• Site-based prescriptive authority
• Physician oversight for controlled substances

Application:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Hold active Texas RN license	—
2	Submit APRN application	$130
3	Submit proof of education	—
4	Submit national certification	—
5	Submit prescriptive authority application	$50
6	File collaborative agreement	—

Prescriptive authority:

• Separate application required ($50)
• Collaborative agreement must be filed
• Site-specific delegation for controlled substances
• DEA registration required for controlled substances

CRNA Practice

CRNAs in Texas:

• Must work under supervision of physician or dentist
• Anesthesia-specific practice rules apply
• NBCRNA certification required

CNM Practice

CNMs in Texas:

• Prescriptive authority with collaborative agreement
• Full midwifery scope of practice
• AMCB certification required

APRN Fees

Fee Type	Amount
APRN recognition application	$130
Prescriptive authority application	$50
APRN renewal	$67
Prescriptive authority renewal	$50

APRN Renewal

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial (with RN renewal)
CE hours	20 hours (may overlap with RN CE)
Certification	Must maintain national certification
Collaborative agreement	Must remain current

Background Check Process

Fingerprinting (IdentoGO)

All Texas nursing applicants must complete fingerprinting:

Process:

1. Receive fingerprint form from BON
2. Schedule IdentoGO appointment
3. Complete fingerprinting (~$40)
4. Results sent to BON
5. BON reviews for clearance

Timeline: 1-3 weeks for results

Declaratory Order

If you have criminal history or other issues:

• Submit Declaratory Order Petition before or with application
• Include certified court documents
• Provide detailed personal statement
• BON reviews and determines eligibility
• Process can add 2-6 months

Disqualifying Offenses

Texas BON considers:

• Nature and seriousness of offense
• Time elapsed since offense
• Rehabilitation evidence
• Relationship to nursing practice

Automatic bars include certain serious felonies.

Continuing Education Requirements

CE Hours

License Type	Hours Required	Cycle
RN	20	Biennial
LVN	20	Biennial
APRN	20	Biennial

Mandatory Topics

Topic	Requirement
Human trafficking	2 hours (one-time, initial renewal)
Nurse Peer Review	2 hours (one-time)

Accepted CE Providers

• BON-approved providers
• ANCC-accredited providers
• Academic nursing courses
• Certification programs

CE Exemptions

Exempt from CE requirements:

• First renewal after initial licensure
• Nurses licensed less than 4 months
• Certain military provisions

Texas Nursing Practice

Scope of Practice

RN Scope:

• Independent nursing practice
• Full assessment and care planning
• IV therapy and medication administration
• Patient education
• Delegation to LVNs and UAPs

LVN Scope:

• Functions under RN or physician supervision
• Basic nursing care
• Medication administration (with training)
• Data collection (vs. assessment)
• IV therapy (with certification)

Facility Staffing

Texas does NOT have mandated nurse-to-patient ratios (unlike California). Staffing decisions are facility-based.

Safe Harbor

Texas has a Safe Harbor provision:

• Nurses can invoke safe harbor for unsafe assignments
• Protects from retaliation
• Requires documentation and supervisor notification

Travel Nursing in Texas

NLC Advantages

Texas multistate license benefits for travel nursing:

• Work in 40+ compact states immediately
• No additional application wait times
• Single license management
• Telehealth across compact states

Texas Market

Factor	Detail
Major markets	Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin
Demand	High, especially acute care
Pay rates	Competitive, varies by specialty
Cost of living	Lower than CA, NY (no state income tax)

Compact Licensing Tips

If moving to Texas from non-compact state:

1. Apply for Texas endorsement early
2. Request multistate license
3. Keep original state license active during transition
4. Update Nursys with address change

International Graduates

Requirements

International nursing graduates must:

Step	Requirement
1	CGFNS certificate or VisaScreen
2	Credential evaluation
3	English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
4	Texas BON application
5	NCLEX examination

Timeline

International applications typically take 6-12 months due to:

• Credential evaluation delays
• CGFNS processing
• Additional documentation requirements

Application Tips

Fast Processing

Texas BON is known for efficient processing. Speed up your application:

1. Apply online — Paper applications take longer
2. Use Nursys — For license verification ($30)
3. Complete fingerprints early — Don’t delay this step
4. Monitor application status — BON online portal
5. Respond promptly — To any requests for information

Common Delays

• Incomplete applications
• Background check holds
• Missing transcripts
• Declaratory order reviews
• School verification delays

Online Resources

Resource	URL
BON website	bon.texas.gov
Application portal	Online Services at bon.texas.gov
License verification	nurselicenseverification.com
Fingerprinting	identogo.com

Texas vs. Other States

Advantages of Texas

Factor	Texas Advantage
Compact state	Multistate license available
Processing time	2-4 weeks (faster than many)
No state income tax	Higher take-home pay
Large job market	Abundant opportunities
Lower cost of living	Compared to CA, NY

Considerations

Factor	Consideration
NP practice	Restricted (requires collaboration)
No staffing ratios	Facility-dependent
CRNA supervision	Required

Next Steps

Ready to get your Texas nursing license?

1. Check specific requirements — Texas RN | Texas LVN
2. Create Nursys account — nursys.com
3. Schedule fingerprinting — identogo.com
4. Submit application — bon.texas.gov
5. Track status — BON online portal

Texas offers excellent nursing opportunities with the added benefit of multistate licensure through the NLC. The efficient licensing process and strong job market make Texas an attractive destination for nurses nationwide.